F Joyce
Spreading seedsHow can a better understanding of seed dispersal improve tropical forest restoration?
Christina N. Blebea
and (University of California Santa Cruz)
Francis H. Joyce
(University of California Santa Cruz)
Who brings seeds to restoration plots in the tropics to create a new forest?
Tropical forests are vital to our world's biodiversity and ecosystem processes, but are threatened by disturbance. Many international initiatives are therefore calling for tropical forest restoration. Successful restoration begins with getting seeds in the ground followed by seed establishment. Animals can improve the efficacy of restoration by aiding in seed arrival and establishment. This module explores both primary and secondary seed dispersal in the context of neotropical forest restoration.
Objectifs pédagogiques
- Describe how seed dispersal by animals is a type of mutualism with costs and benefits to both the plant and dispersal agent(s)
- Identify the main biological actors in neotropical forest seed dispersal and their role in primary and secondary dispersal
- Recognize how seed dispersal is affected by anthropogenic impacts and shapes ecosystems recovery in secondary forests
- Apply knowledge of seed dispersal agents and their effectiveness to a restoration scenario